What is the Difference Between Internal and External Hemorrhoids?

onDecember 29, 2009

Hemorrhoids are the result of swollen and inflamed veins in and around the lower rectal area and the anus. They can be caused by a variety of circumstances including pregnancy, constipation, diarrhea, anal intercourse, obesity, or simply by the process of aging.

A fatty diet or one lacking a significant amount of fiber, can also cause hemorrhoids. There are two types of hemorrhoids, internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids can cause blood to be noticed in the discharge of stool, and on toilet paper and are primarily a result of increased pressure through the internal veins occurring inside the anus and lower rectum. Similarly, external hemorrhoids are caused by increased pressures through the external hemorrhoidal veins, which can cause itching, bleeding, and rectal pain.

There are a variety of hemroid treatment methods, which can help a person diagnosed with a hemorrhoid condition. Hemorrhoid symptoms can be relieved by applying cold packs to the painful area, by the application of hemorrhoid creams such as “Preparation H”, Tronolane anesthetic cream, or Triocaine numbing cream. Some home remedies to alleviate the symptoms of hemorrhoids include aloe vera cream, apple cider vinegar, raw potato, tea bags, or comfrey -which is an organic root used in the treatment of healing wounds more quickly.

If the hemroid problem diagnosed is too severe, there is always the option of surgery. Hemorrhoid problems that cannot be treated by one of the aforementioned options, nor by a high fiber diet, suppositories, or stool softeners can be treated by a surgical procedure that focuses on removal of the blood vessels, which caused the condition. The procedure itself can be done in a variety of ways including stapling or stitching of the hemorrhoid, and in the case of smaller hemorrhoids shrinking them by infrared light, laser, or by freezing them off with liquid nitrogen.